• Weirdest thing I’ve seen lately: Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright gathering “protesters” on the lawn of Flint City Hall to promote his $600 million water pipeline. How often do you see a public official lobbying public officials in that fashion? I know Wright is passionate about this, and if the numbers truly say we should have it, I'm all for it. But something about his all-out evangelism on this strikes me as odd. Can we see the numbers again, please?

• Mitt Romney tried to bet Rick Perry $10,000 during the most recent Republican debate. Some people thought it was offensive because of all the people out of work and that if he was going to offer a bet it should have been chump change. But think of it from Romney’s perspective. To him that IS chump change.

• Time magazine has named “The Protester” as its “Person of the Year.” But you don’t have a yin without a yang. They should have made it “The Protester & the People Who Grumble That They’re All Unemployed Malcontents.”

• Lowe’s, the home improvement chain, is in hot water for pulling its ads from the “All-American Muslim” reality TV show, which is shot in Dearborn, because it’s “controversial,” this coming after a Florida fundamentalist Christian group claimed the show “hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values." Which is a strong claim, so I went and looked at a clip from the next controversial episode, and sure enough it was about – are you ready for this radical jihadist moment? - the joys and challenges of living with your parents when you’re an adult. Wow, I can see Lowe’s point. That’s powder keg stuff.

• By the way, Lowe’s: Dearborn is one-third Muslim. They buy hammers and paint, too.

• Best news of the year: The Federal Communications Commission unanimously approving rules that will require cable operators and TV stations to tone down louder-than-normal TV commercials. Who says government regulation isn’t a good thing? Now if we had bothered to regulate the banking industry with the same vigor we’d all still have intact 401ks and home values. Not that I’m bitter.

• Need Has a Face. This week it looks like the McKay family. They have a child with many allergies. They need a vacuum with a Hepa filter and washer and dryer to help make their home safer for this child. To help, contact Jan Roberts, Genesee County Asthma Network, at 810-262-9591. Information for these reports provided by Resource Genesee , 810-767-0500.

• "A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity, an Optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty"--Winston Churchill.

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